UK’s competition watchdog sets its sights on Google search June 24, 2025 The UK’s competition watchdog has proposed designating Google with ‘strategic market status’ after an investigation earlier this year revealed market issues. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said it had “heard concerns” that Google’s search advertising costs are higher “than would be expected” in a “more competitive market”. It will also look into the transparency [...]
Getty Images’ £3bn Shutterstock merger captures watchdog’s eye June 23, 2025 The $3.7bn (£2.9bn) merger between Getty images and Shutterstock has caught the attention of the UK’s competition watchdog. The deal, which was first announced in January, has the potential to monopolise the stock image market for creative, media and advertising industries. At the time of the announcement, Getty Images said the merger was expected to [...]
Big Four slash graduate jobs as AI takes on entry level work June 23, 2025 The UK’s Big Four accountancy firms are cutting hundreds of jobs and pulling back sharply on graduate recruitment, as artificial intelligence (AI) begins replacing the junior roles once filled by school and university graduates. Deloitte, EY, KMPG and PwC – which cumulatively employ around 100,000 people across the UK – have all stripped back early-career [...]
UK backs quantum with £500m June 23, 2025 The UK government will pump over £500m into quantum computing and related technologies – a major show of confidence in a sector seen as critical to the future of the UK economy and its national security. The investment forms part of Labour’s broader industrial strategy and follows April’s £121m pledge on ‘world quantum day’. The [...]
UK innovation hinges on talent and clusters, says Lord Vallance June 20, 2025 The UK’s science and innovation lanscape is on the cusp of a major transformation, according to science minister Lord Patrick Vallance, who argued the UK must now “connect with its brightest clusters” and supercharge international partnerships to stay competitive. Speaking the recent India Global Forum on Thursday, the government’s national tech adviser and Oxford-Cambridge innovation [...]
VILT – The clock is ticking: European Accessibility Act Looms June 19, 2025 A significant regulatory shift is on the horizon for the European Union, and astute UK business leaders should be watching closely. In June 2025, the European Accessibility Act (EAA) will come into full effect, overhauling accessibility requirements for a wide range of digital products and services, including banking platforms, e-commerce, and e-books. While the UK [...]
Is Trump going to save TikTok… again? June 19, 2025 TikTok’s future in the US is once again in limbo – but this time, fewer in both Wall Street and Washington are taking the threat seriously. In a move that surprised few but frustrated many, President Donald Trump is reportedly preparing to delay a divest-or-ban deadline for the third time in the last six months, [...]
‘We need the next Nikolay Storonsky’: Labour urged to act now to create next tech unicorn June 19, 2025 The UK needs to attract the next Nikolay Storonsky to its shores if it wants a new technology revolution to be built here, the CEO of tech unicorn Motorway has said. Tom Leathes, speaking on an up-coming episode of City AM’s Boardroom Uncovered show, said the country needs “the next Nikolai to come over and [...]
NCC Group pivots on cyber security amid rising demand June 19, 2025 FTSE 250 tech firm NCC Group said it was changing the strategic direction of its cyber security division after revenue took a hit in the first half of the financial year. NCC’s revenue from cyber security tumbled nearly eight per cent to £123.5m for the first half of the year, down from £133.9m for the [...]
Microsoft: AI could redefine London’s 9-to-5 June 18, 2025 The age of the 9-5 workday may be over for London businesses, and artificial intelligence may be speeding up its demise. AI, email overload, and round-the-clock digital connectivity have upturned the rhythms of the modern workday, revealed Microsoft’s latest work trend index. But far from ushering in a smarter, more flexible future of work, the [...]